By Josie Grove

Last Saturday’s fifth annual PorchFest was so popular that the Somerville Arts Council’s website crashed shortly after noon. Since the online map of participating porches was inaccessible, Somervillians followed their ears to over 200 live musical acts across the city.

The City of Somerville will soon be receiving hyper-local weather and temperature data that can be used for purposes ranging from planning snow clearing to analyzing localized climate change effects, thanks to their new Somerville GreenTech Program. The new green tech initiative offers companies the opportunity to pilot their green products and services in Somerville, while holding events to bring green technology innovators together with municipal officials and other industries—all in an effort to make Somerville a resilient and carbon neutral city.

Never mind Texas. The latest hot spot for a hostile take-over is right here in our own back yard.

The city has announced its plan to utilize its potential eminent domain rights to force some redevelopment activity at the long-forsaken Star Market site in Winter Hill.

This is a great idea for when you’re having a small group of people over. I like to have all the toppings set up and prepared ahead of time for convenience. It makes it easier for your guests to partake in the pizza making process too!

Arrests:
*

 Lucas Nascimento, of 31 Bailey Rd., May 11, 5:20 p.m., arrested at 36 Powder House Blvd. on a charge of operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Distrigas of Massachusetts recently honored 19 students from Somerville, Everett and Lexington for their academic success and outstanding work in the field of science.

State Rep. Denise Provost is a Somerville Bagel Bard,  an excellent poet and reviewer. She has also been involved in the effort to create a Massachusetts Poet Laureate position.  Here is a review she sent to Off the Shelf:

Ellen Maas is a voice in and for the wilderness. She is a member of  Somerville’s Bagel Bards, and is well-known for her ecological activism in our community.

We are moms and dads, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters – all bringing the power and proof of recovery to our communities. Together we will change public perception, and ultimately the public response to the addiction crisis…FOREVER.

Somerville Youth Arts Coordinator, Jimmy Del Ponte, announces the 2015 Somerville Rocks! youth talent show, to be held on Fri., May 22 at 7 p.m. in the Somerville High School Auditorium.